Once Upon a Time
James Rada, Jr.
March 1926, 100 Years Ago
Thurmont School Principal Named
David W. Zimmerman, of Walkersville, has been appointed principal of the Thurmont High School, to succeed the late Prof. Russell N. Young, it was announced today by County Superintendent of Education, G. Lloyd Palmer. Mr. Zimmerman will assume charge of his duties March 15.
The new principal is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, after which he held the position of principal of Walkersville High School, and for the past two years had been in charge at the Church street school, this city. Mr. Zimmerman has also studied two summers at the Teachers’ College, Columbia University.
– The (Frederick) News, March 12, 1926
Lantz Post Office Is Robbed; $700 Cash And Checks Loot
A lone man at noon today robbed the postoffice at Lantz, Frederick county, while Charles Brown, the postmaster, was out for his lunch.
Cash and checks reported stolen by the bandit will total approximately $700, authorities were told by Brown when he reported the robbery.
Sheriff Albaugh, notified by Brown immediately after discovery of the loss, went at once to the scene and this afternoon was at work on the case.
Because Brown had been unwell for several days and unable to deposit the office receipts in the bank each day, the money on hand was of more than the usual amount carried in the office.
– The Frederick Post, March 18, 1926
March 1951, 75 Years Ago
Association Formed; Wants Rt. 15 Improved
An enthused representative gathering of Emmitsburg and Thurmont residents met Monday evening at the Fire Hall in Thurmont, hosted by Mayor Sayler D. Weybright of that town. The single goal of the meeting is improvement of Route 15.
Presiding over the session were Ernest Hammaker, Thurmont business man, and Edgar Emrich, Emmitsburg farmer and chairman of the local Grange roads committee.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, March 16, 1951
20,000 Trot To Be Stocked In Streams
A total of 20,000 legal-size trout will be stocked in Frederick County streams during the 1951 season, according to the State Game and Inland Fish Commission. The total is about the same as last season with the fish running about the same size—from seven to 12 inches.
Fishing Creek, most of which traverses the Frederick City watershed will be stocked with 8,000 trout during the season, with 7,000 allocated to Big Hunting Creek; 3,000 to Middle Creek; 1,500 in Friends Creek and 500 in Little Hunting Creek.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, March 23, 1951
March 1976, 50 Years Ago
Flu Epidemic Is Spreading
A late-developing influenza epidemic has spread throughout the United States, but health officials say the death toll is falling far short of the Hong Kong flu epidemic of seven years ago.
The Center for Disease Control reported Friday that through Feb. 28, pneumonia and flu led to 1,270 “excess deaths” this year, meaning deaths above the number expected by CDC scientists.
The Hong Kong flu strain in 1969 produced 12,700 “excess deaths,” a CDC spokesman said.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, March 11, 1976
Bells To Toll
A simultaneous, nationwide ringing of bells on July 4th will herald the country’s entrance into its third century.
Communities, churches, schools, fire departments, universities and individuals will toll bells and carillons in conjunction with the ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia at 2:00 p.m. (EDT). The time selected is exactly 200 years from the precise moment that the Liberty Bell proclaimed the indepence of the new nation.
– Emmitsburg Chronicle, March 25, 1976
March 2001, 25 Years Ago
Local Civil Air Patrol Squadron Off and Running
Since my last article, I am pleased to report that the Emmitsburg Squadron, (you notice that I am calling it the Emmitsburg Squadron now, not the Emmitsburg flight of Mt. Airy Squadron), is OFF AND RUNNING. At the time of this writing, we have eight young people who have committed their time to the Civil Air Patrol. Our first three members were Kyle Potts of Emmitsburg, and Benjamin and Anthony Steinhour of Gettysburg. They were soon followed by Andrew Nucelli, Brian Howard, Chris Petrie, Mark Lingg, and Justin Swain. Some young women have expressed an interest in joining and we hope more will check us out.
– The Dispatch, March 2001
Moratorium On Building Towers
The Emmitsburg Town Council, at their February 4 meeting, voted in favor of a nine-month moratorium on the building of communication towers within the town limits. The council felt a need to become more familiar with matters of microwave towers in order to draft an effective ordinance. To date two requests have been made to install towers within town limits.
– The Emmitsburg Regional Dispatch,
March 2001
